Japan’s Ebino City Releases Promotional Videos: Living Here Is as Good as Exercising
Ebino City, located in Miyazaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in southwestern Japan, released two online videos aimed at improving awareness of the city worldwide on March 13. The two videos are titled “The Charms of Ebino” and “Moving and Settling in Ebino.”
Ebino is a small city with approximately 20,000 residents, and yet it boasts the largest concentration of hot springs in the prefecture and is renowned for producing some of the finest rice and beef in Japan, as well as other natural resources offered by its abundant nature.
The videos not only introduce the attractive aspects of Ebino but also depict life in the city as a part of the Ebino Life Style (ELS) exercise program, suggesting that simply living in Ebino will help with getting fit and healthy. Moreover, the videos feature real residents of Ebino, who wholeheartedly attest to the effectiveness of the exercise program and the appeal of the city.
While the notion that simply living in a city serves as exercise is ridiculous at first, the earnest testimonials of local residents both lend credibility to the claims and comical value to the videos.
The Charms of Ebino:
Moving and Settling in Ebino:
About Ebino City
Located in the southwestern part of Miyazaki Prefecture in Kyushu and surrounded by mountains, Ebino is a small city with a population of about 20,000. Despite its small size, Ebino is blessed with natural resources and is known as one of the largest concentrations of hot springs in the prefecture as well as a producer of high-quality beef and rice.
To attract new residents in addition to visitors, the city has implemented various policies including small classroom sizes to improve education quality and offering financial support to people moving from larger cities to engage in farming.
Basic data
Total area: 282.93 km2
Population: 19,229 (as of July 1, 2016)
Households: 8,579
Average temperature: 16.0 degrees Celsius (2015)
Notable spots and highlights
1. Hot springs
Ebino boasts one of the largest hot springs in the prefecture in Kyomachi Onsen and one of the oldest in Yoshida Onsen, and has a number of other facilities all of which have their private springs. The outstanding hot spring water and gorgeous scenery offer healing and relaxation for both body and mind.
2. Nature
Ebino is surrounded by mountains with the Kyushu mountain range to the north and the first national park in Japan, Kirishima Geopark, to the south. With the Sendai River running through the city, the rural scenery and the numerous spring-fed ponds, Ebino’s natural beauty makes every season truly enjoyable.
3. Food
Agriculture is the main industry in Ebino. The city’s produce is highly acclaimed, and the Japan Grain Inspection Association awarded the Ebino “hinohikari” brand of rice the highest Special A rating in 2015, while Miyazaki beef has won the National Wagyu Beef Competition twice.
